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No. 622,053. Patented Mar. 28, A|899. J. W.- LIVERMORE.

THAWING APPARATUS.

(Application led Hm'. 30, 1898.!

(Ilo Model.) l

vk \\`\\\l\`=.\ "lll i1/n@ n 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN YV. LIVERMORE, OF SELMA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF CNE-HALF TOCLARENCE J. BERRY, OF SAME PLACE.

THAWING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,053, dated March28, 1899.

Application filed March 30, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LIvERMoRE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Selma, in the county of Fresno and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Thawing Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is a portablel apparatus of cheap and simple constructionfor applying io heat to frozen ground at .the surface or in shafts,tunnels, drifts, the., as a preliminary to prospecting or miningoperations.

My invention is fully hereinafter described and is'embodied in anapparatus illustrated x5 in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is a side view of the apparatus applying heat to a vertical surface.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of theapparatus applying heat to a horizontal surface.

A represents a furnace or stove, which is preferably a sheet-ironcylinder closed at one end by a door B, a draft-opening ct being left inthe end. This furnace is furnished with a grate, which is preferablycomposed of a suitable number of bars or pieces of gas-pipe C, which arepassed through holes b pierced in the cylinder and extend across it,being secured in place by exterior nuts c. The furnace is supported onlegs and is set longitudinally, as shown, and its end opposite thedraft-inlet is open. Hinged at the rear or discharge end of the furnaceby hinges c is the heat-applying chamber D, which communicates directlywith the furnace and receives the Haine and heat from the same. In Fig.l this chamber is in vertical position, pushed up into contact with thesurfaceto which the heat is to be applied.

The chamber D has an open face and closed back and is preferably formedin two sections, one of which slides upon the other, so as to adjust itsheight. This adjustment is shown in Fig. 2, where a perforated bar cissecured to the lower section and is guided through a perforatedstirrup cf, so that a pin may be passed through registering holes in thebar and stirrup.

The position of Fig. 1 is that of the apparatus when applying heat to avertical sur- Serial No. 675,752. (N0 model.)

face, such as the face of a drift leading from a shaft. In this positionthe chamber D is set close against the vertical face, forming a closedcom partment, into which the flame and heat rush from the furnace andare distributed against the whole ,surface covered by the chamber. Inthe upper end of the chamber D a plate f connects the two sides, forminga draft-chamber provided with holes g to allow the smoke to escape. Apipe E extends 6o back froln this chamber and preferably terminates ator near the adjustable draft-funnel F, which is on the endhof adraft-pipe G, carried `to or up the shaft, and through which there is anatural draft. This arrangement keeps the air comparatively clear infrontof the furnace and carries away the smoke, fumes, dac., withoutinconvenience to the miners.

I have shown in Fig. 3 the capacity of the 7o apparatus for applyingheat to the surface of the ground preparatory to prospecting or digginga hole or shaft. The hinge connection of the chamber D enables it to bethrown down to a horizontal position upon the ground 7 5 with its openlower end communicating with the furnace. In this case a separate hoodII is placed over the opening in what is now the top of chamber D, andthe flames and heat are now confined in a horizontal chamber in- Sostead'of a vertical one and are applied tothe surface over the areacovered by the horizontal chamber. The single portable machine is thusadapted to both of the kinds of thawing which are required in coldmining countries-that of horizontal and that of vertical frozensurfaces.

A deflecting-plate h is hinged at c' to the rear wall of the chamber D,Fig. 2, which is adjustable through the curved arm h', which 9o passesthrough a slot k in the wall. This deflector when used as in Fig. 2prevents the draft in the escape-pipe from carrying the v heat away toorapidly and directly and causes 4 it to come into contact with the faceof the excavation. It will be noticed that the draft- This is one of themost imloo portant features of my construction, as it insures thedistribution of the llame over the whole surface of the ground. If theescapepipe led centrally into lthe back of chamber D, the draft wouldbe-central and the heat would be directly applied only over a narrowcentral space; but by separating the draftopenings, as shown, the draftis divided, causing the fiames and heat to spread. upwardly from thefurnace and to cover the whole surface.

This apparatus forms a cheap, convenient, and portable means forapplying heat for the purposesmentioned. Itissimplyconstructed of commonmaterial and is Well adapted for use in localities Where there are fewor no facilities for construction or repair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim s- 1. In a thawingapparatus, the combination with a furnace of a heating-chamber having aclosed back, an opening in the back communicating with the furnace, ahinge connection between said furnace and chamber, whereby the chambercan be adjusted from vertical to horizontal and a hood to cover saidback opening` when the chamber is horizontal, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a thawing apparatus, the combination with a furnace, of aheating-chamber communicating therewith and hinged thereto, and formedof separate sections, one of which is capable of sliding on another, aperforated bar on one section, and a perforated guide on the other, thesaid bar and guide being adapted to receive a pin for locking saidsections at any adjustment.

3. In a thawing apparatus and in combination a furnace, aheating-chamber adapted to be placed against the surface to be thawed,and draft-openings in the chamber and near opposite sides thereof, andcommunicating with a common escape-pipe, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

et. In a thawing apparatus and in combination a furnace, aheating-chamber adapted to -be placed against the surface to be thawed,

a plate connecting the sides and end of the chamber and forming adraft-space, a draft near each end of said plate, and an escapepipecommunicating with said draft-space.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 14th day of March, 1808.

JOHN XV. LIVERMORE. Witnesses:

L. XV. SEELY, A. BARION.

